Container



CONTAINER Filed Jan. 8, 1940 INVENTOR HARRY F. RIGERMAN Patented `lune15, 1943 UNITED 'EES P'EENT man QFFECE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers, and particularlyto the end closure meansy'thereof.

The provision of a container and end closure means therefor that iscapable of safely carrying considerable loads has been a serious problemin the industry for a long period of time.

Another problem that has confronted the industry has been the provisionof end closure means that are easy to apply at the time the container isloaded and also that are easy to remove When it is desired to gainaccess to the contents of the container after the closure member hasbeen applied to the container.

The present invention is especially directed to the provisionof a,container and closure means therefor capable of carrying heavy loads andsafely withstanding the rough treatment encountered by such containersin transit and otherwise,

While the number of materials that may be designated as heavy materialsis of great magnitude, it will suice, for the purposes of thisdisclosure, vto mention one such type of material, namely, nails.

Nail kegs or containers must carry heavy loads and must withstand veryrough treatment in handling. They must `be capable of withstanding theshocks incident to being dropped on their edges from considerabledistances without collapsing and without permitting the end closuremeans to become disengaged, either partially or entirely, from the shellof the container.

The present invention will be better understood vby reference to theappended drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top ofa container embodying the present invention, and prior to being sealed;and

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure l, except that the endclosure means is shown in the fastened position; and

' Fig-ure 3 is a sectional view of a part of the container takenl alongthe` line of 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 i's a perspective View of one modification of the sealing meansembodied in the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional View similar to that shown in Figure 3, butillustrating a different type of end closure plate; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figures 3' and 5, but showingstill another type of end closure plate; and

Figure 7 isv a perspective View, showing in detail a portion of anothersealing means embodied in the present invention.

In the drawing, the same reference numerals will be used throughout forthe same parts.

The container illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a shell I of anysuitable material, a reinforcing band 2, also of any suitable material,tightly embracing the shell I at the top thereof, a top'closure means 3,comprising a disc-like member or plate 4 having a concentricinwardlyprojecting corrugation 5 formed therein and a chime strip 6attached to said .disc-like member or plate, and a plurality of detents'I projecting above the top of the container. In Figure 2, the elementsillustrated are the same, excepting that the detents 'I have been turneddown from their upright positions so that, as illustrated, they engagethe chime strip 6 and, by such engagement, hold Vthe end closure means 3in close engagement withthe shell I.

The elements briey referred to in connection with Figures 1 and 2 areshown in more detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the shell I is shown as having aninwardly-projecting bulge I0 running circumferentially thereof, and theband 2 as having a similar inwardly-projecting bulge II registering withthe concave side of the bulge Ii] of the shell.

The end closurev means illustrated in Figure 3 comprises a metaldisc-like member 4 having an inwardly-projecting corrugation 5' formedtherein and a circumferential channel I2 also formed therein and tightlyembracing a chime strip 6 of any sui-table material. Located between theinner face of the shell I', Aon the one hand, and the chime strip 6 andchannel i2 of the end closure plate, onthe other hand, is shown thelower portion I3 of the .detent l. of the detent 'I shown as projectingbeyond the top of the container in Figure 1 is shown bent down in Figure3.` As shown in Figure 3, one

leg I4 of the detent 'I is shown bent over the top of the drum and downVon the outside of the drum in engagement with the reinforcing band 2.The other leg. i5 of the detent 'l is shown bent over the topofthe-chime strip 6 and down and against the inner face of the chime stripThe details ofthe particular detent shown' in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and. 6are more fully shown in Figure 4i. As shown there, thedetent- 'llcomprises the main body portion I3,` two upwardly-extending leg portionsI5 and I6, respectively, a leg portion Ul extending normally to the mainbody portion I3 and downwardly with respect thereto,

The portion and a channel portion I'I having one edge I8 thereofserrated. The detent thus illustrated and described is formed of anysuitable material, for example, a metal such as iron or steel, and isplaced in the position, as shown in the drawing, between the inner faceof the shell I and the chime strip 6, with the inner face of the channelI1 registering with the bulge Iil of the shell I. Vhen so positioned,the leg I4 extends over the top of the shell and the reinforcing band inengagement therewith, and then projects downwardly in engagement withthe top outer face of the reinforcing band 2. When the detent is lirstpositioned between the shell and the chime strip, the upwardly-extendinglegs will be in the positions illustrated in Figure l. Then, when it isdesired to fasten the end closure plate 4, the upwardly-projecting legsI5 and IE are bent over the top of the chime strip and downwardly alongthe inner face of the chime strip and into engagement therewith.

'Ihe modification of the present invention illustrated in Figure 5comprises the same shell and reinforcing band construction as isillustrated in the other modifications of the invention and differs fromsuch other modifications in that the end closure disc is Without theconcentric inwardly-projecting corrugation 5 and has, instead, a platein one plane and a chime strip 2| formed of the same material andintegrally with the plate, as illustrated. The application of the detent'I to the shell and to the end closure means is the same for themodification illustrated in Figure 5 as it is in the modification shownin Figure 3.

The modification of the present invention illustra-ted in Figure 6differs from that of the other modifications in that the closure meanscomprises a wooden plate in place of the metal plates employed in theother modifications and in that each of the legs l5 and I6 of the detentis provided with a punched-out tooth 26, which is driven into the Wood,as illustrated. The section of the detent 1 as shown in Figure 6 differsfrom that shown in Figure 3 in that it is taken through the leg I6instead of the leg I4, as is the case in Figure 3.

The detent embodied in this invention may be modified in various ways,one of which is that illustrated in Figure '7. As illustrated in thatiigure, the detent has a number of upstanding legs 30, which is inexcess of the two legs I5 and I6 as illustrated in connection with themodifications previously illustrated and described, and also a pluralityof downwardly-projecting legs 3| instead of the one such leg illustratedin the previous modiiications.

The modification illustrated in Figure 7 may embrace any desired numberof legs and may be of such length that it extends completely around theinner face of the shell of the container and has its ends abutting, orat least in close proximity.

'Ihe inward projection of the corrugation 5 of the closure plate or disc4 and its location with respect to the outer edge of the plate or disc 4are of importance in providing a suitable closure plate for a container.By providing an inwardlyprojecting corrugation located relatively closet0 the periphery of the plate or disc, a closure member of greatstrength is obtained.

The inwardly-projecting corrugation 5 is located so that its outerperiphery has a maximum diameter equal to the over-al1 diameter (ininches) of the plate 4 less the product obtained by multiplying theover-all diameter of the plate (in inches) by 4 (2.31/1-1) in which d isthe over-all diameter of the plate (inches), and a minimum diameterequal to the over-all diameter of the plate less the product obtained bymultiplying the over-all diameter of the plate (in inches) by in which dis the over-all diameter of the plate (in inches).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate or disc 4 isprovided with a concentric inwardly-projecting corrugation whose outerperiphery has a diameter equal to the arithmetric mean of the maximumand minimum values obtained as described above. Expressed differently,the plate 4 of the preferred embodiment has a concentricinwardly-projecting corrugation whose outer periphery is equal to theover-all diamter of the plate less the product obtained by multiplyingthe over-all diameter of the plate by 5 s (asu/d-n in which d is theover-all diameter of the plate.

Inasmuch as the depth of the inwardly projecting corrugation and itswidth at the Widest portion are functions of the diameter of the plateand of the thickness of the metal used for the plate, and since thoseskilled in the art of forming sheet metal objects know how to proportiona corrugation to give maximum rigidity to a metal plate oi a particulardiameter and gauge, it is not considered necessary to specify suchdetails for all cases. However, a corrugation having a depth ofseven-sixteenths (fg) of an inch and a width at its open side of one andthreeeighths (1%) of an inch provides satisfactory reinforcement for aten and one-half (101/2) inch diameter plate of twenty (20) gauge steel.

The closure member of that embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is made by spinning or otherwiseforming a iiat disc of metal, for example, steel, to provide aconcentric corrugation located as described above, and to provide achannel at the outer portion for receiving a chime strip, which may beof any suitable material, such as Wood, vulcanized bre or paper board.The chime strip is placed in the channel I2 and fastened therein b-ypressing the walls of the channel into close engagement with the chimestrip so that the chime strip is joined to the metal plate and can beremoved therefrom only with difficulty.

While the shell I of the container may be of any suitable material, thepreferred shell is made by tightly winding a continuous strip of paperonto a mandrel of suitable size until the desired thickness is obtained.At least the beginning portion and the end portion of the paper shouldbe attached to the surfaces of the paper contiguous thereto by asuitable adhesive such as glue, and usually the entire strip is coatedon one side with glue just prior to its being wound on the mandrel.While the thus-formed shell still is damp, the bulge II is formedtherein near the top and a similar bulge is formed near the bottom, andthen the shell thus formed is set aside they are formed to register withth'e peripheral depressions or concave sides ofthe bulges formed in theshell at the top andthe bottom. By thus forming the reinforcing bands ona previously dried shell, no adhesive is necessary for' joining thebands to the shell because they, too, shrink in drying and thus areintimately joined to the Shen' ,A .o

` A chime strip formed by tightly wrapping paper in the manner describedyabove in connection with the container shell -is particularly suitablefor a container embodying the'present invention. f

A container constructed in the manner herein described has greatstrength and is capable of carrying heavy materials because of thedegree of yieldability existing in the structure, particularly at theends thereof.

Probably the vgreatest difficulty in providing a container lfor heavymaterials has been that of obtaining a suitable closure member andfastening means therefor because containers laden with heavy materialsare handled roughly and fre- -quently are permitted to drop considerabledistances, and on one edge of the container.

A container having a rigid closure member fails under such treatmentbecause of its rigidity. One frequent cause of failure of the endportion of a container is that upon being dropped, while heavily laden,onto one edge, the shell naturalljr yields somewhat and goes out ofround. An end plate, on the other hand, that is rigid and unyieldingdoes not yield with the shell and either buckles or rips out the meansby which the end closure member is attached to the body, or bothbuckling and such ripping out of the attaching members, takes place.

The closure member of the present invention has none of the defects ofthe closure members heretofore known and, when joined to a shell ofsuitable strength, provides a structure that is capable of carryingheavy loads and withstanding exceedingly rough treatment.

The inwardly-projecting concentric corrugation of the closurememberreduces the buckling of the plate to a minimum and is not to 'beconfused with an outwardly-projecting corrugation. Theinwardly-projecting corrugation located as herein described introducessufficient yieldability to avoid the defects of a rigid plate, and atthe same time, provides sufficient strength to keep the plate in shape.

While it is difficult to denitely explain why an end plate with aninwardly-projecting concentric corrugation will with stand more abusethan one having an outwardly-projecting corrugation, it is a fact thatsuch is the case. Actual dropping tests have proved conclusively that aplate with an inwardly-projecting concentric corrugation will withstandmany more falls than a closure member having an outwardly-projectingcorrugation.

Without meaning to limit the invention in any way, the action of theclosure member of the present invention may -be attributed to the mannerin which the closure member acts, due to the momentum of the materialcontained in the container. Actual dropping tests indicate that theVclosure member 'ofthev present' invention tends to'expand and therebymaintain intimate 'Contact .bet e' 'the 'C hline 'Strip' andV the'Shellwhen themomentum of the' contents 'of'the contain'erls directed Lagainstthe' end Closure means by virtue oi the Sudden Stopping of the containerwhen it ldrops uponth'e licor Jor other surface. On the other hand,actual dropping tests indicate that 'an end closure member having anoutwardly-projecting corrugation buckles in the center portion,an'dsuch'buckling causes the plate to exert a lever actionon the chimestrip and thereby causes'the rivets, clips, staples or stitchingsto'pull out and thereby permit disengagement of the end closure means fromthe shell.

Having'thus described my invention,`I`claim:

LA container comprising ay shellhaving a shoulder onits interior andnear its end, a closure in engagement with said shoulder and a detentlocated`between the inner face ofsaid shell and the edge portion ofysaid closure plate, said detent comprising a channel portionregistering with and in engagement with the in* wardly-projectingshoulder of said shell and'having bendable legs projecting beyond thetop of said shell.

2. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on'its interiorandnear its end, a closure in engagement with said shoulder and a detentlocated between the inner face of said shell and the edge portion ofsaid closure plate, said detent comprising a serrated channel portionregistering with and in engagement with the inwardly-projecting shoulderof said shell and having bendable legs projecting beyond the top of saidshell.

3. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on its interior andnear its end, and a closure plate in engagement with said shoulder, saidclosure plate comprising a metal plate with a concentric corrugationprojecting inwardly of the container, and a chime strip fastened into achannel located at the periphery of said plate, and a detent locatedbetween the inner face of said shell and the chime strip of said closureplate.

4. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on its interi-or andnear its end, and a closure plate in engagement with said shoulder, saidclosure plate comprising a metal plate with a concentric corrugationprojecting inwardly of the container, and a chime strip fastened into achannel located at the periphery of said Plate, and a detent locatedbetween the inner face of said shell and the chime strip of said closureplate, said detent comprising a channel portion registering with and inengagement with the inwardly-projecting shoulder lof said shell andhaving bendable legs projecting beyond the top of said shell.

5. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on its interior andnear its end, and a closure plate in engagement ,With said shoulder,said closure plate com-prising a metal plate with a concentriccorrugation projecting inwardly of the container, and a chime stripfastened into a channel located at the periphery of said plate, and adetent located between the inner face of said shell and the chime stripof said closure plate, said detent comprising a serrated channel portionregistering with and in engagement with the inwardly-.projectingshoulder of said shell and having -bendable legs projecting beyond thetop of said shell.

6. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on its interior andnear its end, and a closure plate in engagement with said shoulder, saidclosure plate comprising a metal plate with a concentric corrugationprojecting inwardly of the container, and a chime strip fastened into achannel located at the periphery of said plate, said concentriccorrugation having a mean radius greater than one-half of the radius ofthe end closure plate, and a detent located between the inner face ofsaid shell and the edge portion of said closure plate.

7. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on its interior andnear its end, and a closure plate in engagement with said shoulder, saidclosure plate comprising a metal plate with a concentric corrugationprojecting inwardly of the container, and a chime strip fastened into achannel located at the periphery of said plate, said concentriccorrugation having a mean radius of from ve-eighths to three-fourths ofthe radius of the end closure plate, and a detent located between theinner face of said shell and the edge portion of said closure plate.

8. A container comprising a shell having a shoulder on its interior andnear its end, and a closure plate in engagement with said shoulder, saidclosure plate comprising a metal lplate with a concentric corrugationprojecting inwardly of the container, and a chime strip fastened into achannel located at the periphery of said plate, said Vconcentriccorrugation having a mean radius of approximately eleven-sixteenths ofthe radius of the en'd closure plate, and a detent located between theinner-face of said shell and the edge .portion of said closure plate.

9. A. container comprising a continuously wound'paper shell having ashoulder on its interior and near its end, and a closure plate inengagementwith said shoulder, said closure plate comprising a metalplate with a concentric corrugation projecting inwardly of thecontainer, and a continuously wound lpaper chime strip fastened into achannel located at the periphery of said plate, and a detent locatedbetween the inner face of said shell and the edge portion of saidclosure plate.

10. A paper shell and a continuously wound paper reinforcing bandtightly embracing said shell at an end thereof, and a closure plate inengagement with said shoulder, said closure plate comprising a metalplate with a concentric corrugation projecting inwardly of thecontainer, and a chime strip fastened into a channel located at theperiphery of said plate, and a detent lo cated between the inner face ofsaid shell and the edge portion of said closure plate.

HARRY F. RIGERMAN.

